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The price of energy-saving LEDs continues to drop and Philips says it will introduce a $10 LED lightbulb by the end of the year that replaces a 60-watt incandescent, the most commonly used bulb. Until then, Philips has just brought out a $15 LED at Home Depot. That's good news for consumers and a signal to Philips' competition.
"We're trying to get LEDs in the hands of people who aren't in areas where utility rebates are offered, but still want a quality product at a decent price," says Silvie Casanova, a spokeswoman for the manufacturer. The $15 Philips LED 10.5W 420240 replaces a 60-watt bulb yet uses only 10.5 watts and is supposed to give off a whiter light, like a halogen bulb. Consumer Reports' lighting experts will put this LED through some preliminary tests and report back in the next week or so.
Find the right type of bulb for your needs and budget: Check out our lightbulb buying guide and Ratings.
So how did Philips add a $15 LED to its lineup? The company dropped the dimmability, says Casanova. This LED is claimed to last 20,000 hours, or about 18 years when used three hours a day, and not the 25,000 hours that is the minimum requirement for Energy Star.
Our past tests found that among 60-watt replacements, the dimmable Philips AmbientLED 12.5W 12E26A60, $25, was excellent overall, instantly offering a bright light and shining it right where you need it. The light color is warmer and yellower and this Energy Star-qualified LED is claimed to last 25,000 hours. If you're lucky enough to live in an area with a $10 utility rebate then it too costs $15.
For more details on the results of our tests of LEDs, CFLs, and halogen bulbs, check our Ratings. You'll see that some LEDs cost as much as $60. But Philips isn't the only one to lower prices. The top-rated LED is an EcoSmart lightbulb from Home Depot. It's around $14, down from $26 just several months ago.
